MARSH-MUD. MASTICATION. 



Analysis in the dry way by Alkali. 



"A substance," says Professor Hitchcock, 

 "so rich in geine or salts of lime and soda, 

 or in both, as the above analyses show, cannot 

 but prove a fertilizer of the soil if spread upon 

 it. If a soil be quite poor, those varieties 

 should probably be chosen that contain the 

 most geine ; and this can be judged of by their 

 comparative lightness when dry ; the lightest 

 abounding most in organic matter. But if the 

 soil already contain a good deal of inactive 

 vegetable matter, the varieties that abound 

 most in salts will probably be most efficacious; 

 though an additional quantity of geine can do 

 no harm, and may do much good. If marsh- 

 iftud be applied at random, it is not strange 

 that varieties of it, almost destitute of geine, 

 should be sometimes put upon exhausted soil, 

 and that no good effects should follow. Hence 

 the necessity of some fixed principles to guide 

 the farmer. And since Massachusetts contains 

 so much sea-board, and so much land rtear the 

 coast that may be benefited by. this substance, 

 a correct mode of applying it is of great im- 

 portance. (Geological Report.) 



The abundant deposit called marsh-mud 

 found along the extensive marshes which border 

 many of the shores of the bays and rivers of 

 the Middle States, is variously constituted, be- 

 ing sometimes a black, unctuous substance, 

 made up of vegetable and mineral matter, in 

 which sometimes no trace of vegetable fibre 

 can be traced, whilst at others it contains not 

 only a perceptible portion, but consists mainly 

 of the fibres of grass-roots and leaves, in a 

 state of greater or less decay. Professor Booth, 

 who has treated of the subject in his Geological 

 Surrey of D, Lncare, says, that the first of these 

 is the most valuable, and may sometimes be 

 directly applied to land without admixture; but 

 it is advisable to adopt a uniform method of 

 using it, which mav be done in two ways, by 

 mingling it with lime, better after exposure to 

 the air for some time, or by drawing it into the 

 barn-yard to bring it into an incipient fermenta- 

 tion bv contact with stable-manure. In either 

 case it will more than repay its expense ; and 

 if lime be employed on the land at the same 

 time, a more powerful and durable influence 

 will be derived from it. 



Pine mud. The fertility of those lands of 

 which bine mud forms the upper surface, and 

 its beneficial effects in the few instances in 

 which it has been employed on the upland, are 

 A warrant of its fertilizing powers, but it is a 

 matter of some doubt to what substances its 

 effects are mainly to be attributed. Its basis 

 is a fat clay, both lead-coloured and yellowish, 



with a quantity of organic matter, which ap- 

 pears to be chiefly in the state of crenic and 

 apocrenic acids, combined with the oxide of 

 iron. There is no doubt that it would be ad- 

 vantageous if applied directly to the soil, but 

 its tenacity is an objection to such a mode of 

 using it, and hence it is more advisable either 

 to draw it into the barn-yard, where it will be 

 broken down and mingled with manure, or to 

 mix it with lime, and expose it for some time 

 to the air, adding, at the same time, the black 

 marsh-soil, which is generally to be obtained 

 in its vicinity. 



The blue mud is wholly unlike a peaty soil, 

 but being deposited on the river-marshes, it 

 soon becomes a marshy soil, and many of the 

 creek and western marsh deposits are far from 

 being peaty, although they contain much orga- 

 nic matter. Its value, as a manure, rests not 

 on a mere theoretic assertion, but it has received 

 the test and sanction of experience, and such 

 experience, both in Delaware and elsewhere, as 

 may not be contradicted. As it would be a 

 matter of nicety to discriminate between such 

 varieties as are not sufficiently decomposed, 

 and require some preparation prior to their 

 application, and those which might be directly 

 employed, it would be better to adopt a general 

 rule relative to the mode of using it, viz., either 

 to draw it into the barn-yard, or to form a com- 

 post with lime, or with ashes. In either case 

 it will form an excellent manure, and with lime 

 or ashes a durable one. 



MARSH-THISTLE, or RED THISTLE 

 (Curduus pa/ns/m). See THISTLE. 



MARSH-TREFOIL. See BCCK-BEA*. 



MARUM. Bitter. In botany, the term is 

 used to signify an herb with a strong smell. 



MASH. A soft sort of diet occasionally 

 given to horses. It is prepared by pouring 

 boiling water upon a small quantity of ground 

 malt, bran, or other similar substance, in a 

 pail, so as just to wet it well. After this has 

 been done, it should be well stirred about, till 

 it is thoroughly mixed and sweetish to the 

 taste, when, after becoming lukewarm, it is in, 

 a proper state to be given to the animal. It is 

 frequently used after purges to increase their 

 operation, as well as after hard labour, and in 

 the time of disease. Mashes are very useful 

 for restoring animals in these circumstances. 



MAST. The nuts or seeds of the beech, oak, 

 and chestnut-trees, which are the food of hogs, 

 squirrels, &c. 



MASTICATION. The process of grinding 

 or chewing the solid parts of food between the 

 teeth, by the united motion of the jaws, tongue, 



795 



